Method and apparatus for steam rinsing dishes



Aug. 14, 1962 F. KOONS ET AL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STEAM RINSING DISHES Filed July 9, 1958 Frederick L. Koons Leslie Drum Fig-2 .INVENTORS The present invention generally relates to a method and device for preventing the formation of hard water spots on dishes which have been washed in an automatic dishwasher and more particularly relates to a steam rinsing device for this purpose.

in certain localities, the water supply is considered hard in that it contains a relatively high percentage of minerals or the like. This hard Water presents a particular problem when used in conventional automatic dishwashers in that such water leaves hard water spots on the dishes and other utensils washed in the dishwashers. Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a method and device for preventing the accumulation of hard water spots and at the same time more thoroughly clean the dishes disposed in the dishwasher.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a steam rinsing method and device in accordance with the preceding object in which the heating element normally employed for drying the dishes is equipped with a water supply trough overlying the same so that the water supply in the water supply trough may be vaporized into steam so that it will then contact the dishes or other utensils and actually flush the hard water spots from the dishes before they conform and harden.

Generally, the present invention involves a trough which may vary in size and shape to fit the various heating elements used by various types of dishwashers. The trough is constructed to fit on top of the heating element and is separated by partitions into separate compartments with the partitions being built into the inside of the trough so that if the dishwasher is not sitting on a floor which is perfectly level, the separate compartments will catch and retain a suflicient amount of water to accomplish the result intended. The trough will automatically fill from the spray which is whirled around inside of the dishwasher during the operation thereof. During the washing and rinsing cycle of the dishwasher there will have been accumulated in the trough sufl'icient water to fill it. The heating element continues to operate during the full drying time and will vaporize the water accumulated in the troughs thereby causing the dishes and other utensils in the dishwasher to be bathed in steam, which of course is distilled water, since the chemical contents of the water remain behind in the trough. The bathing of the dishes in steam will avoid the spots on the dishes and utensils which are caused by hard water and which are solidified mineral deposits with the bathing of the utensils and dishes in steam also having a tendency to lessen bacteria on these articles.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a rinsing device for dishes in a dishwasher which is extremely simple in constuction, easy to install, well adapted for the purpose of rinsing dishes and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a dishwasher having the steam rinsing device of the present invention in- ILMilASh Patented Aug. 14, 31962 ree stalled therein and illustrating the general relationship of the rinsing device with the remainder of the dishwasher;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the steam rinsing device;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 33 of FIGURE 2 illustrating the construction of the water trough and the relationship thereof to the heating element; and

FEGURE 4 is a sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 44 of FIGURE 2 illustrating further structural details of the water trough.

Referring now specifically to the drawing, the numeral it} generally designates a conventional automatic dishwasher which includes an enlarged cabinet forming an enlarged compartment or enclosure 12 having a dish rack 34- therein for receiving a series or plurality of dishes or other utensils generally designated by the numeral 16. The compartment 12 is provided with a hinged closure door 18 and a bottom wall or sump means Ztl and means 21 operable for spraying water in the compartment 12 during the normal washing and rinsing cycle of the dishwasher. The dishwasher forms no part of the present invention and the present invention may be employed with various types of dishwashers having various con figurations. In the dishwasher there is provided an annular heating element 22 which includes a tubular element 24 enclosing insulation material 26 and a heating wire 23 which is a conventional heat element and is normally provided in dishwashers for completely drying the dishes and utensils. If the dishwasher is not equipped with a heating element, then the heating element may be added for the purpose of drying the dishes.

Supported on the annular tubular member 24.- is a trough generally designated by the numeral 3t) which is annular and coextensive with the heating element 22 and includes a pair of vertical side walls 32 interconnected by a bottom wall 34 which has a concave lower surface 3d conforming to the periphery of the tubular member 24 for resting on the top portion of the tubular member 24 and engaging the surface thereof over a substantially large area. The concave nature of the lower surface 36 of the bight portion or bottom wall 34 conforms to the external periphery of the heating element and posi tions the trough 36 on the heating element and supports the same in position. A trough 30 also includes spaced partition walls 38 dividing the trough into separate compartments for catching or receiving water 40 which is deposited therein during the spraying action during the normal washing and rinsing cycle so that the trough will be substantially completely filled. After the rinsing cycle, the heating element continues to operate during the drying cycle for normally drying the dishes. During this operation of the heating element, the water in the trough will be vaporized and will then engage the external surfaces of the dishes or utensils 16. Any droplets of water on the dishes will be increased in size due to the condensation of the water vapor or steam thereon and will eventually be flushed off of the surface of the dishes by the condensing steam or water vapor thus actually rinsing the dishes and removing the mineral deposits which would cause hard water spots if they were allowed to dry on the dishes. Thus, the water vapor or steam rinses or flushes the hard water deposits off of the dishes before they dry thus completely cleaning the dishes and at the same time partially sterilizing the dishes and lessening the bacteria growth thereon.

The trough may be constructed of any readily convenient material and may be altered to conform to the configuration or" various heating elements and may be constructed as an integral part of the dishwashing machine with it only being necessary that the trough have 3 a water supply and have communication with the compartment for discharging Water vapor onto the dishes.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a dishwasher having a cabinet with a dish rack therein in which the dishes are spray rinsed and an openahle closure door, a heating element, means for spraying rinse water in said cabinet to effect a spray rinse, and means in water free fall receiving re lationship to said spraying means during said spray rinse, said water receiving means including a sump portion for receiving a first quantity of said water and an uncovered, open top water container portion in heat exchange relation to the heating element for catching directly from said free fall a second quantity of said water by way of said uncovered, open top, said heating element being operable to vaporize said second quantity of water whereby water va or free of impurities produced by the heating element will rinse dishes in the dish rack and prevent formation of scale caused by droplets of spray rinse water.

2. The method of steam rinsing dishes in an automatic dishwasher comprising the steps of spray rinsing the dishes by heated tap water, catching a portion of said water during said spray rinsing, allowing surplus water to drain from the dishes, vaporizing said caught portions of said water, and subjecting the dishes to a steam rinsing with the resulting vapor whereby droplets of spray rinse water will be flushed off the dishes by the steam vapor.

3. The method of rinsing dishes in an automatic dishwasher and leaving the dishes free of deposits of scale comprising the steps of spray rinsing the dishes, catching and retaining a portion of the spray rinse water, allowing the dishes to drain for removing the spray rinse water, heating the retained spray rinse water and producing water vapor free of impurities and subjecting the dishes to the pure water vapor whereby droplets of spray rinse water will be flushed from the dishes.

4. The method of rinsing dishes or the like in an automatic dishwasher comprising the steps of spray rinsing the dishes or the like by liquid, catching a portion of said liquid during said spray rinsing, allowing sunplus liquid to drain from the dishes or the like, vaporizing said caught portion of said liquid, and subjecting the dishes or the like to rinsing with said vapor whereby droplets of spray rinse liquid will be flushed ofl the dishes or the like by the liquid vapor.

5. In combination with a casing forming a dishwashing chamber, means in said chamber for supporting dishes or the like during a dishwashing cycle including periods of rinsing and steam bathing, means for distributing a liquid in said chamber during said rinsing period, annular tubular means for heating in said chamber during said steam bathing period, and trough means having an annular bottom Wall concave to conform to the external periphery of said heating means in radiant heat baffling, nested heat exchange relationship and an uncovered open top in liquid free fall receiving relationship with said distributing means for catching directly a portion of said liquid during said rinsing period for subsequent release directly therefrom in the form of distilled water vapor during said steam bathing period.

6. in combination with a washing apparatus, a casing defining a washing chamber and a fluid receptacle means in said chamber, means for supporting utensils to be washed in said chamber, means for distributing fluids in said chamber in periods of wash and rinse, heating means in heat transfer relationship with fluids in said receptacle neans, said receptacle means including a first portion for receiving rinse fluid during said rinse period and an uncovered second portion in free fall receiving relationship r to the rinse fluid being distributed for catching directly some of the rinse fluid during said rinse period and for retaining said some of the rinse fluid after said rinse period, and said heating means being operable after said rinse period to vaporize said retained rinse fluid to bathe said utensils extensively with the distilled condensate from said vaporized rinse fluid.

References (fitted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,570,552 Bowerbank Ian. 19, 1926 1,687,458 Lancelot et al. Oct. 9, 1928 1,907,875 Robertson May 9, 1933 1,925,210 Smith Sept. 5, 1933 1,952,568 Schapp et al W Mar. 27, 1934 2,057,177 Wolfif Oct. 13, 1936 2,127,778 Lewis Aug. 23, 1938 2,364,722 Kazantzefi Dec. 12, 1944 2,443,321 Miner June 15, 1948 2,621,666 Hiort Af Ornas Dec. 16, 1952 2,651,065 OConnor Sept. 8, 1953 2,825,666 Stoddard Mar. 4, 1958 2,935,207 Miller May 3, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 8,080 Great Britain Apr 23, 1895 

2. THE METHOD OF STEAM RINSING DISHES IN AN AUTOMATIC DISHWASHER COMPRISING THE STEPS OF SPARY RINSING THE DISHES BY HEATED TAP WATER, CATCHING A PORTION OF SAID WATER DURING SAID SPRAY RINSING, ALLOWING SURPLUS WATER TO DRAIN FROM THE DISHES, VAPORIZING SAID CAUGHT PORTIONS OF SAID WATER, AND SUBJECTING THE DISHES TO A STREA RINSING WITH THE RESULTING VAPOR WHERBY DROPLETS OF SPRAY RINSE WATER WILL BE FINISHED OFF THE DISHES BY THE STEAM VAPOR. 